MAJOR (Anime): why Goro Shigeno’s saga is still one of the best sports anime of all timesBaseball prodigy Goro Shigeno's life and struggle from childhood to maturity is an enduring source of exitement and cheer, season after season

MAJOR is one of the longest-running sports anime and one of the most loved as well.

Adapted from the manga written by Takuya Mitsuda, MAJOR tv series was aired on japanese television in 2004 and it counted 6 seasons (last episode being aired in 2010). The story follows Goro Shigeno‘s life and career through his passion for baseball.

While the sequel “MAJOR 2nd” is currently airing on japanese tv, you might want to find out all the reasons to watch (or re-watch) the whole saga.

1. MAJOR perfectly embodies the japanese values of athletic tenacity and personal self-emprovement (and it totally inspires the audience!)

2. MAJOR follows the main character’s life from nursery school to parenthood and you end up getting attached to GoroShigeno like he was a childhood friend of yours.

3. Goro Shigeno is a stubborn, inconsiderate, insensitive jerk. He is far from being the flawless hero. Yet his dedication towards his goals is so solid that either the other characters and the audience cannot help supporting Goro’s challenges.

4. Shimizu Kaoru is proof that the “He’s Just Not That into You” theory is not always right. Hopelessly devoted to Goro since primary school, Shimizu eventually manages to win his heart.

5. Toshiya Sato is the best sidekick/rival. Sato is much more upstanding than Goro and just as talented as him. Their “friendship-then rivalry-then teamwork” is one of the key factor of the entire saga.

6. In MAJOR there are plenty of awsome supporting characters that will win you over, each of them with a great personality and their own reasons

7. Just like in any true masterpiece, in MAJOR, the opponents are never simply villains . Shigeno’s arch enemy (american baseball star Joe Gibson) and all the other rivals Goro meet along his way reveal themselves as honorable men.

8. Whenever you finish watching MAJOR saga and you feel like you have lost a group of friends, you can console yourself with a brand new series (MAJOR 2nd) starring Goro‘s son Daigo Shigeno. You will meet again Shimizu, Sato, Komori and many other characters from the original saga.